Perelle

Awe inspiring, rarely kited, full of possibility

Conditions

Waves

Usable Tides

Spring High, High

Usable Winds

W - NNE

The Launch

There is some beach at Perelle before the high tide comes up, but it’s narrow and can be rocky. Launching here is going to be easier with a friend – and given the conditions on offer – it’s probably wise not to kite alone.

On the right day, Perelle offers up surf that is close to world class in the form of punchy rights and lefts, and a massive mushy A-Frame known as the big peak. When there’s no wind you’ll find Guernsey best and brightest paddle surfers strutting their stuff out here, and when the wind comes, the best windsurfers on the Island hold court. Although it’s not likely that Perelle has never been kited, it’s most definitely rare. If you’re looking for waves, this is the place to be, the right and left break off the end of Dom Hue island, and about another 500m offshore is the big peak – able to turn a 3 foot swell into a triple overhead wave by some freakish underwater topography. This is an awe inspiring spot.

if you are not able to relaunch immediately, it would be better to just ditch your gear completely and then paddle or swim back to shore

The Bad

Don’t fly a kite here unless you know what you are doing, and even then – have a plan. There are a bunch of places where, if you are not able to relaunch immediately, it would be better to just ditch your gear completely and then paddle or swim back to shore… From Dom Hue, that’s a few hundred metres, from Big Peak – it could be half a mile depending on where the wind and currents decide to push you.

The Ugly

The rocks are uneven, there’s a big slab towards the end of the right, and the inside section of the left can also throw up some evil heads of granite without warning. Be careful, be safe.

Where?

Drive south from Vazon – around Perelle bay and back out again, then after rounding the next corner you should see a larger paved area on the right next to a boat ramp. If it’s on, you’ll see cars parked and the big peak looking utterly terrifying.